Modular plumbing system and method

ABSTRACT

A modular wall panel assembly including at least one wall panel and a plumbing system installed at least partially within the at least one wall panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/649,778, entitled “A MODULAR PLUMBING METHOD FOR OFFICE FURNITURE”, filed Feb. 3, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to modular office furniture, and, more particularly, to modular office wall panels arranged in a work environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical work surface requires convenient access to electrical power. In an office setting, electrical power is typically provided in the form of electrical receptacles connected to a utility power source. The electrical receptacles power office equipment such as computers, calculators, facsimile machines, copiers, printers, clocks, lamps and the like. Work surfaces are conveniently arranged and can be connected to modular wall panels that are arranged in a removable fashion for use in an office environment. Work surfaces, particularly modular furniture work surfaces are easily configurable to meet the changing needs of the business. Work surfaces require access to electricity, and the existing circuits and receptacles in a building may limit the inherent flexibility of a modular furniture work surface by requiring the work surface to be located near existing circuits and receptacles.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that converts hydrogen or some other compound of gases through suitable conversion to hydrogen, and oxygen into water, producing electricity and heat in the process.

What is needed in the art is a system that does not require connection to a utility power grid, is cost effective to operate, is suitable for typical work environments and is environmentally friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a work surface gas delivery system to power a fuel cell module.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a modular wall panel assembly including a wall panel and a plumbing system installed at least partially within the wall panel.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a reconfigurable distribution system for a gas supply.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an electrical power module that is connectable to a wall panel system.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it removes the restriction of having to position work surfaces proximate to an electrical outlet to obtain power.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it removes a restriction of having to hardwire modular office panels into a building power grid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially fragmentary view of an embodiment of modular furniture wall panels of the present invention including a plumbing system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the modular furniture wall panel plumbing system of FIG. 1 interconnected with a fuel cell;

FIG. 3 is a schematicized top view of the modular wall panel system of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of an end of a modular wall panel of FIGS. 1-3.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a workspace in an office environment including modular wall panel system 10 generally having at least one modular wall panel 12, which is associated with another modular wall panel 14. Work surface 16 is attached to modular wall panel 14 and provides a functional work surface area. A plurality of modular wall panels 12 and 14 can be interconnected and all panels 12 or 14, or any subset thereof can have at least one work surface 16 attached therewith. Modular wall panels 12 and 14 are substantially similar and any reference to modular wall panel 14 should be understood to be typical of other interconnected modular wall panels including wall panel 12.

Now, additionally referring to FIG. 3, modular wall panel 14 includes a raceway 18, a cavity 20, supply pipes 22, 24 and 26, and drain pipes 28, 30 and 32. Although supply pipes and drain pipes are illustrated as being separated, the two can be associated and somewhat interconnected to further coordinate their interconnection. Supply pipes 22, 24 and 26 supply a hydrogen compound, or hydrogen gas throughout modular wall system 10.

A drain pipe 32 is shown in raceway 18 allowing a drain line to run along a lower portion of wall panel 14 and interconnect at the ends thereof with other wall panels. At some point along the running of drain pipe 32 a T-coupling 42 is supplied that interconnects a drain pipe 30, having a predetermined installation length, which interconnects a drain pipe 28 with drain pipe 32 allowing fluid to further drain through floor drain coupling 34. Various plumbing fixtures, such as a three-way coupling 40 connects a drain pipe 28 in modular panel 14 and another drain pipe in modular wall panel 12 with drain pipe 30 to cause fluid therein to drain towards floor drain coupling 34. Floor drain coupling 34 may be a flexible tube that is connected to an end of T-coupling 42 and a floor drain. Hydrogen is supplied by a source, not shown, and is distributed by way of supply pipes 22, 24 and 26, which may be coupled together such as by an elbow coupling 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Respectively fluidly coupled to supply pipe 22 and drain pipe 28 are supply valve 44 and drain valve 46. Valves 44 and 46 respectively shut off the contents of the pipes from the ambient environment, such as that at or above a work surface 16.

Now, additionally referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an end of wall panel 14 with a supply pipe 22 extending therefrom. For purposes of illustration a coupling 36 is shown to interconnect with an end of supply pipe 22 so as to fluidly couple one wall panel with another wall panel, or with a gas source or drain as appropriate. Although the illustration relates to supply pipe and coupling, a similar arrangement for the drain pipes is also provided. It should also be understood that although the supply pipes and drain pipes are, for purposes of illustration, shown as being similar, the actual size, color and/or cross-sectional shape can be different to avoid an inadvertent mixing of supply and drain plumbing.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of wall panels are positioned and are plumbed with couplings, such as couplings 36 and T-coupling 42. Supply lines 22, 24 and 26 are of a predetermined length and are either integrally constrained and contained in a respective wall panel or are replaceably therein, such as being within a cavity 20 of a wall panel 14. Couplings such as coupling 36, elbow coupling 38, three-way coupling 40 and T-couplings 42 may be removably placed on ends of respective pipes or may be attached requiring a destructive method for their removal.

A fuel cell 48 is fluidly coupled to a supply pipe 22 and a drain pipe 28 to provide a supply of hydrogen to fuel cell 48 and a drain line for the draining away of water created in the combining of hydrogen with atmospheric oxygen to produce electricity. Fuel cell 48 includes a supply line with coupling 50, a drain line with coupling 52 and a plurality of electrical outlets 54. For the purposes of clarity fuel cell 48 is shown positioned on work surface 16 although fuel cell 48 may be integral with wall panel 14 with receptacles 54 remotely located therefrom. Fuel cell 48 is fluidly coupled by way of lines 50 and 52 each with couplings respectively to pipe 22 and pipe 28. As hydrogen is supplied, oxygen from the atmosphere is consumed by the fuel cell reaction, thereby providing electrical energy at outlets 54.

Advantageously the present invention provides fluid coupling of at least one plumbing system in modular wall panel furniture. The fluid coupling provides for the delivery of hydrogen to a fuel cell and the draining of the water created by the reaction therein.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. 

1. A modular wall panel assembly, comprising: at least one wall panel; and a plumbing system installed at least partially within said at least one wall panel.
 2. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said plumbing system includes at least one supply pipe and at least one drain pipe.
 3. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one valve fluidly connected to one of said supply pipe and said drain pipe.
 4. The modular wall panel assembly of clam 3, wherein said at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve, said first valve fluidly connected to said supply pipe and said second valve fluidly connected to said drain pipe.
 5. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fuel cell fluidly connected to both said supply pipe and to said drain pipe.
 6. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 5, wherein said fuel cell includes at least one electrical outlet.
 7. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 6, further comprising a work surface having a work area, said at least one electrical outlet being positioned proximate said wall panel making electrical power available proximate to said work surface.
 8. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall panel has an end, said plumbing system including at least one pipe extending beyond said end.
 9. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one wall panel includes a first wall panel and a second wall panel with said plumbing system of said first wall panel being fluidly connected to said plumbing system of said second wall panel.
 10. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of a plumbing supply line and a drain line is connected to said plumbing system of said first wall panel and to said plumbing system of said second wall panel proximate an end of said first wall panel and an end of said second wall panel.
 11. A modular wall panel, comprising: a plumbing system installed at least partially within said modular wall panel.
 12. The modular wall panel of claim 11, wherein said plumbing system includes at least one supply pipe and at least one drain pipe.
 13. The modular wall panel of claim 12, further comprising at least one valve fluidly connected to one of said supply pipe and said drain pipe.
 14. The modular wall panel of clam 13, wherein said at least one valve includes a first valve and a second valve, said first valve fluidly connected to said supply pipe and said second valve fluidly connected to said drain pipe.
 15. The modular wall panel of claim 12, further comprising a fuel cell fluidly connected to both said supply pipe and to said drain pipe.
 16. The modular wall panel of claim 15, wherein said fuel cell includes at least one electrical outlet.
 17. The modular wall panel of claim 16, further comprising a work surface connected to the wall panel having a work area, said at least one electrical outlet being positioned proximate the wall panel making electrical power available proximate to said work surface.
 18. The modular wall panel assembly of claim 11, wherein the wall panel has an end, said plumbing system including at least one pipe extending beyond said end.
 19. The modular wall panel of claim 11, wherein the wall panel is configured to be fluidly connectable to another wall panel.
 20. A modular furniture wall panel plumbing method, comprising the steps of: fluidly coupling a plumbing system in a first wall panel to a plumbing system in a second wall panel; and supplying a gas to at least one of said plumbing systems. 